You want to be your own boss - choose the work you do, the hours you work, the people you work with.

Take note: You now march to the beat of your own drum. The buck stops with you.

• Are you prepared for the responsibility and the discipline required?
• Are you initiated and motivated enough to do whatever needs to be done to succeed?
• Are you willing to take risks and make the hard decisions?

You want a business so you have more time and freedom to attend to things that matter most to you, i.e. your family, kids, personal time.

Take note: A lifestyle business – one that exists to accommodate the lifestyle you seek - might mean having to turn customers away once your time is filled or cup is full.

• Are you prepared to sacrifice revenue and growth?
• Are you clear that your business is not supposed to make you so busy and tired that you have little time for anything else?

You intend to grow a business that will make you a lot of money.

Take note: The way you approach your business will differ from someone who is starting it to gain more personal time. It will demand 200% of your time and effort. There will be little time left for your family, children or yourself.

• Are you prepared for the sacrifices you will have to make?
• Do you have a clear executable plan and targets to hit?
• Do you have a long-term vision?

You are starting a business because you can’t seem to find suitable full-time employment.

Take note: Many successful entrepreneurs start this way, but many also fail. To succeed, you need to have the commitment and belief that your business is not just a temporary solution to your employment woes.

You believe there is a better way to do something or you want to pursue your hobby full-time.

Take note: Have you done the necessary research to ensure there is a market for what you want to do? Will you be able to sustain a profitable business?

Are you prepared to juggle a variety of other tasks, from keeping the accounts, to doing sales, to dealing with suppliers?